Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

Experience Engage Enable

Telephone02 9816 1298

Emailfieldofmar-e.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Digital woodlands incursion program

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Teacher checklist

Location

Your school and local site
Cost

2025 DoE $25 per student - GST free

2025 Non-gov school cost $28 per student - GST free, minimum charge $750

Schools are to confirm the number of students and classes at least 7 days prior to attending. Schools will be charged based on the number of students confirmed or number of students who attend on the day (whichever is greater). 
Risk assessment Risk management plan
School preparation

Please provide one learning space, with a smart board, for all participating classes for the duration of the day. The space needs to accommodate multiple classes.

If using local bushland or natural areas, ensure all class teachers have visited the site and are familiar with the route from school to it.
Welfare

This excursion may not be suitable for people who have recently been unwell.
Bring

Backpack, medication, low-waste food, water bottle, sunblock, raincoat, hat, sturdy shoes, mask.

Students wear reusable name tag and sports uniform.
View Preparing for an excursion
Supporting resources

Eucalypt forest digital book - available free from Apple Books

Fact sheets
Parent/carer helpers

Optional one parent per class, no siblings. Closed shoes essential.

Check COVID-19 restrictions.
Medical or special needs

Notify Field of Mars staff prior to incursion. 

Students, staff and visitors must not attend if unwell, even with mild symptoms. 
Extreme or wet weather

Days predicted to be above 35ºC, high winds, extreme bush fire danger and dust storms may result in the incursion being modified, postponed or cancelled. 
Cancellations

Cancellations with less than 30 working school days notice will incur a $600 administration fee. 

Cancellations with less than 7 working school days notice will incur the full cost for the program based on the original booking. 

Cancellations due to weather or fire danger are exempt from fees. 

Suggested timetable for up to three classes

 
Actual times may vary.

Time

Activities
9.15 - 10.00

Introduction at school - taking great photos
10.00 - 10.30

Recess, toilets, equipment distributed
10.30 - 1.15

Field photography

Photo finish - editing
1.15 - 1.45

Lunch at school
1.45 - 2.30

Digital book creation and sharing

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Learning activities

Students will be introduced to the techniques and methods of digital photography. They will create a portfolio of the special features of the bushland or nearby natural areas. 

Introduction

Taking great photos

In the classroom, students will be introduced to skills, techniques and methodologies of digital photography. Topics will include how to take a photo with an iPad, rule of thirds, composition and macro photography. 

Time will be provided to practise some of these techniques in nearby natural areas. Where appropriate, these will be linked to students’ existing understanding of visual literacy.

Field photography

Students will work collaboratively to select photo subjects, to compose and frame shots and to identify creative ways to express their photographs. Field of Mars teachers will present photographic challenges to extend students' photographic experiences.

Using a nature theme will focus students on the task of finding opportunities to create images that represent life within a natural areas whilst also practising photography techniques. A theme related to current class learning topics can also be used, such as national parks, plants and habitats.

Publishing 

Photo finish

The students will review and edit their photographs taken in the field, choosing the best examples of life in the reserve. 

Using their best photographs, students will construct a photo story using the Book Creator app running on an iPad. The completed book will be saved as a PDF or ePub file and sent to the school via Google Drive.

Students will select their best photo to be printed on A4 photo paper which will be printed at Field of Mars EEC and returned to their school with a photo frame at a later date.

Photo gallery

Students view a slide show of the day's best photographs and discuss the features and techniques used.

Framed photographs

At school the framed photographs can be used to create a gallery which provides the opportunity for students to view each other's work, discuss the techniques used and the special features of each photograph.

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Syllabus outcomes and content 

Creative Arts K-6 Syllabus (2024)

Visual Arts

Outcome

  • Makes artworks using art forms to represent subject matter and ideas, and describes ways artists convey ideas about their world to audiences through artworks CA2-VIS-01

Content

Making: Artists represent their world through subject matter and ideas in artworks

  • Represent subject matter and ideas in artworks, making choices based on own interpretations of the world
  • Use drawing materials and techniques to create effects with texture and tone to represent subject matter and ideas
  • Explore digital tools to make or manipulate still or moving images, text and/or sounds
  • Explore balance, scale and proportion in compositions to represent subject matter and ideas
  • Make artworks through collaboration with others
  • Demonstrate safe art making practices with respect for physical, social and digital saftey

Other syllabus links

Learning experiences will also support but not explicitly teach the following outcomes and content:

Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus (2024)

Physical and living systems depend on energy

Outcome

  • Uses information to investigate the solar system and the effects of energy on living, physical and geological systems ST2-SCI-01

Content

Living things depend on energy and materials to survive

  • Observe and describe living and non-living things in a habitat

Creative Arts K-6 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2024

Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2024

Creative Arts K-6 Syllabus (2006)

Visual arts

Outcomes

  • VAS2.1 represents the qualities of experiences and things that are interesting or beautiful by choosing among aspects of subject matter
    • focuses on details of subject matter and areas of beauty, interest, awe, wonder and delight 
  • VAS2.2 uses the forms to suggest the qualities of subject matter
    • experiments with techniques in… photography… to create particular effects to suggest such things as close-ups, middle distance…

Other syllabus links

Learning experiences will also support but not explicitly teach the following outcomes and content:

Geography K-10 Syllabus (2015) 

The Earth's environment

Outcomes

  • examines features and characteristics of places and environments GE2-1
  • acquires and communicates geographical information using geographical tools for inquiry GE2-4 

Content

Different environments

  • investigate the natural characteristics of Australia and a country in Asia

Creative Arts K-6 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2006
Geography K-10 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2015

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Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

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We’d like to acknowledge the Wallumedegal Peoples of the Darug Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we stand and pay our respects to Elders past and present.

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